Emergency crews battle backyard grass fire that set Reservoir home alight, neighbours help homeowners evacuate property

The owners of a Reservoir home were sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee before neighbours rescued them when their home suddenly went up in flames.

Two heroic joggers have come to the rescue in Melbourne’s north after a home went up in flames.

Emergency crews were called to the scene on Thackeray Rd in Reservoir just after 12.30pm on Wednesday, after a fire erupted in the backyard of the house.

The Herald Sun was told the pair ran into the home to warn the residents — who were in the kitchen drinking coffee — just before the home itself caught fire.

It’s understood an elderly woman was taken to hospital in “shock” after the incident.

Neighbours spilled out onto the street after seeing smoke erupt from the home. Picture: Supplied

One neighbour, who wished to stay anonymous, said he saw a “big spark” in the backyard before he and his partner self-evacuated.

“We were worried because we couldn’t find our cat but we’ve since found him,” he said.

“I’m glad no one was hurt.”

Another neighbour said those who lived in the street were a “close-knit” community.

FRV crews were able to extinguish the blaze. Picture: Himangi Singh

“Everyone is always there for one another, it’s a great street. It’s really unfortunate this happened,” he said.

“The condition of the house is pretty rough so it’s no surprise the entire house was engulfed after the fire started in the backyard.”

An FRV spokesman said crews arrived on scene within seven minutes to find the single storey weatherboard house engulfed by flames.

“There were no occupants trapped or injured,” the spokesman said.

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“The fire appeared to have started at the rear of the property before taking hold within the dwelling and in the roof space.”

A community warning was issued for smoke in the area and the gas and power companies were requested to attend.

The fire was brought under control just after 1pm with FRV crews expected to remain on scene for some time.

A police spokeswoman said the cause of the fire was not being treated as suspicious.